Three kinds of stubborn

by Mary Calhoun

Three folk tales featuring three stubborn Missourians--Cousin Emmett, little Ida, and Blue Louisey.

48 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Mary Louise Huiskamp Wilkins, also known as Mary Calhoun was born on August 3, 1926 in Keokuk, Iowa. She received a bachelor's degree in journalism for the University of Iowa in 1948. She was hired as a reporter for the World-Herald in Omaha, Nebraska after graduation. Her fascination with spirits and folklore of the 19th century led her to write stories about witches, elves, cats, dwarfs, and pixies. She has also published stories in Jack and Jill and Humpty Dumpty magazines. She worked at the Omaha World Herald before marrying fellow journalist Frank Calhoun. Her first book, Making the Mississippi Shout, was published in 1957. She wrote more than 50 children's books during her lifetime including the Katie John series, Julie's Tree, Henry the Sailor Cat, and Cross-Country Cat. She died on October 27, 2015 at the age of 89.

Reviews

[Katie Bathke · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book would be categorized as a tall tale under traditional literature. This book has a lot of words and the pictures that are in the book are drawn in with red and black pencil. The covering of this book has the most colors in the entire book. I think the illustrator put more colors on the front cover to attract people to want to read the book. I know if the picture on the cover looked like the pictures in the book I would not read the book because it would look boring because of the lack of color.

[Lindsey Johnson]

This book is the first older book that I have read that the cover and the back of it have color to it. Most of the older books have white covers but this one has yellow. The front of the cover makes you wonder if the old lady in the tree is going to be nice or mean because of the face she is making. This book is a folk tale and I like how on the first page you open this book it tells you about American folk tales. This is another book where everything is only two to three colors.

[Roger · Rating 2 out of 5]

Neither the stories or illustrations were that great, except the last story about the witch who hexed the house was at least entertaining. I didn’t think they were different types of stubbornness. Maybe that’s hyperbole.